2. Africa is a large continent. America could fit into Africa three times The equator divides Africa. Hot rain forest cover either side of equator Most of Africa is in the tropics High temperatures and uneven rain Wide open rainforest create grasslands perfect for herding animals

3. North and South of the Savannas are the deserts To avoid deserts travelers followed the coastline The area surrounding the Mediterranean sea is a mild climate good for growing crops

4. The Berbers were the first know people to settle in North Africa They crossed the Saharra to trade with people in West Africa The Berbers began making trips around 400 B.C. Originally used horses for travel, but the Romans introduced camels from central Asia

5. Advantages of Camels Their feet did not sink in the sand Their humps stored fat for food Could travel many days without water Hundreds to thousands of camels grouped together to form caravans

6. Trade -Salt and cloth from North Africa and the Sahara for gold and Ivory from West Africa -Trade led to the development of cities in Western Africa - The development of these cities led to the establishment of empires

7. Established in the 400 A.D.s Crossroad of trade Levied taxes on the traders as they passed through The taxes made Ghana rich Ghana did not own gold mines however because of advanced weaponry they conquered their neighbors who did posses gold mines Ghana had a huge army The demand for goods allowed Ghana to collect taxes